Posted on 06/07/2007 6:20:41 AM PDT by badpacifist
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) - A man seen on surveillance video leaving a store shortly before a teenager was abducted in the parking lot has been arrested, hours after her body was found in a park, authorities said. Edwin R. Hall, 26, was expected to be charged Thursday morning with premeditated first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping, Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass said. Kelsey Smith, 18, had been missing since Saturday night, when she went to a Target store in this Kansas City suburb to buy a gift for her boyfriend.
Surveillance video showed her being forced into her car around 7:10 p.m., and the car drove off. It was found in a nearby mall parking lot about two hours later.
Police said Hall's vehicle matched the description of a dark mid-1970s Chevrolet pickup that was seen entering the Target parking lot shortly after Smith's car.
"I want to again express my condolences to the Smith family," Douglass said. "I realize that this is not the preferred conclusion. While we cannot give them their daughter back, we can at least give them justice."
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
“On a blunt pole so it takes longer to die...”
“With splinters.”
Inserted 1 inch an hour.
The cell phone number, the cell phone number. That would not have easily been available to anyone checking My Space, or a list of graduating seniors.
This just makes me sick that our society has turned this way. I would even be worried about posting such information in those lists of freshemen that colleges publish so the kids can get to know each other.
I am hysterical about if I think too deeply — my grandchildren live nearby and would be so vulnerable.
Both of my kids know how to shoot, I think it is that important. I also think I am going to outfit my daughter with at least some pepper spray. If a woman gets in the habit of holding the spray at the ready (even with it in one hand on her side with her finger on the release button) coming out of stores or whatever, even if they have to ask the store to be escorted to their car if they have more than one bag, is prudent these days. I'd rather have my daughter laughed at for being paranoid, than have to organize a search party to recover her body.
I know it is hard for people to think that way, but we are coming to the point in our society where we have to always think of personal protection and safety. Even in my low crime town. It is hard to keep your guard up, people always think it won't happen to them. I'm not Monday morning quarterbacking, but I always think "what if" for my family. We cannot plan for every event, but we can try to be less of a target and at least, at a minimum, be aware of our surroundings.
Overland Park and Olathe (home of the alleged killer) are both adjacent (contiguous) with Kansas City. Kansas City spans the Kansas/Missouri border. You cannot tell where the line is. My grandchildren live in Overland Park. The highway dips in and out of Missouri on the way to their house.
Yes. Overland Park is a very large suburb of Kansas City and we're a couple of miles from the state line. Her body was found in a similar suburb on the Missouri side of the line. The feds have jurisdiction because the crime crossed state lines - abducted in Kansas and found, perhaps killed in Missouri.
May serious accident/incident befall the accused should he be proven guilty.
America’s justice’s main problem is there is simply too much safety afforded perpetrators once they’re in custody. Incarceration ought to be as hazardous to the criminal’s health as would be the front lines of a battle zone.
Me, too. Basically, I think it's just part of a much larger problem, with a lot of different components, which will eventually break loose all at once.
Uh huh. The only evidence presented in the article was ownership of a car. And just that was enough to bring on the usual FR orgy of personal death-threats and speculative torture.
Still, on a reconciliatory note, if there really is DNA evidence against him then the case is all but finished, and FReepers have some right to a vicarious lynching.
I know that the Feds have jurisdiction in at least some kidnapping cases (perhaps when the perp crosses state lines)....but would they have jurisdiction in the murder part of this? That is,could the Feds sentence this guy to death?
I know I saw those posts. I was just commenting that the picture of the animal from Target video you can tell he was a white looking American.
I did see those posts that is why I said they were silly.
A lot of parents (and others) will be able to breathe easier today.
Credit due to credit earned.
Leni
MO does have the death penalty, although it was halted due to a constitutional challenge of the method that was just overturned. So the death chamber at Petosi is “back in business.”
And while I believe that KS does have the death penalty, it hasn’t been used in a very long time, if ever, and I believe that the charge, premeditated murder, can not lead to the death penalty. I believe that the sentence can be 25 years to life in prison. Add 147 months minimum for aggravated kidnapping, and the minimum sentence would be a bit over 35 years. So, unless they went for “with no parole,” the guy could be out in about 15 years.
Mark
I love your tag line.....Can we make it a bumper sticker?
I love your tag line.....Can we make it a bumper sticker?
I know what you mean... I live in Lee's Summit, less that 15 minutes from Longview Lake, where she was found.
Mark
I believe that the KS state legislature overturned the governor's veto on concealed carry, but I don't believe that it's been implemented yet. And yes, you need to be 21.
Mark
I have thought that way practically all my life. I walk with my hand near my firearm at all times. Sometimes with it inside the purse compartment ready to shoot through the purse if necessary. It is as easy as wearing a seatbelt once you get used to it.
Strongly urge everyone here and those you know and love to buy a “Storm Safety Whistle” which is 100% louder than standard police whistles and can be heard under water. The Storm Whistle is currently used by the U.S. military and preferred 3-1 by police officers. Can be found in sporting stores for $12 or go to stormwhistles at stormwhistles dot com to purchse. (we are not allowed to post web sites I don’t think). I have one and it’s a must have for your own safety. It’s a matter of life or death.
Is there evidence that Myspace was a key element in this case? Has the suspect been established as using MySpace to identify his victim(s)?
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